RandBall: Where’s the money? Gophers budget shortfall raises questions

BleedGopher

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Per RandBall:

It would be nice if the Gophers athletics budget was as simple as 1-2-3, but nothing related to money and college sports is easy these days.

Instead, recent developments have showed us the financial math at the University of Minnesota broadly and the athletic department specifically is as complicated as 6-7-8.

As in: Tuition for in-state undergrads at the Twin Cities campus is going up 6.5% next season, academic programs are getting cut by 7% and the athletic department projects an $8.75 million deficit between revenues and expenses in 2025-26.

The math, as they say, is not math-ing.

The only easy part is understanding why the athletic department has such a gap. At this time last year, the Gophers’ budget presented by AD Mark Coyle was projected at around $150 million.

This year, Coyle is projecting revenues at $165.47 million and expenses at $174.22 million.

The additional revenue largely seems to come from TV and media money paid out by the Big Ten. That was pegged at about $63 million in the 2024 fiscal year while estimates have put it around $75 million for the 2025 fiscal year, a bump of $12 million.

The additional expenses are almost all from settled lawsuits that allow schools to pay their athletes. The Gophers are paying the full allowable amount, about $20.5 million, a huge new expense that accounts for about 12% of their budget.


Go Gophers!!
 

Coyle greasing the skids for the sports cuts that are coming. No way around it, a lot of fat will have to be trimmed to make sure his most important programs (FB, MBB, MHOC, VB, WBB, in that order) eat.
 


And Fleck gets a $1 million raise while the department runs a deficit. Seems like Fleck could get by on the millions they are currently paying him, in light of the financial challenges going forward. I guess I don’t understand the wealthy.
 

Coyle greasing the skids for the sports cuts that are coming. No way around it, a lot of fat will have to be trimmed to make sure his most important programs (FB, MBB, MHOC, VB, WBB, in that order) eat.
Agreed, but which sports get cut?
Women's rowing, men's baseball, men's and women's soccer?
I have no idea what programs are cut, but the revenue sports will get the money.
 


Rowing won’t get cut. That’s how they make scholarships equitable in numbers with football. I believe there are no limits on rowing scholarships.
 

Rowing won’t get cut. That’s how they make scholarships equitable in numbers with football. I believe there are no limits on rowing scholarships.
Title IX was created with the greatest of intentions but resulted in universities being forced to make terrible business expenditures and funding decisions.

From a purely business perspective, you're not going to continue to invest in a product line for your store that simply doesn't sell. You're going to replace it with more of your best selling items.

I don't believe there is anything "woke" about seeking equal opportunities for female athletes but at some point, common sense needs to replace idealistic ventures.

Just my humble opinion on the topic.
 

And Fleck gets a $1 million raise while the department runs a deficit. Seems like Fleck could get by on the millions they are currently paying him, in light of the financial challenges going forward. I guess I don’t understand the wealthy.
‘ a little more than I already have.’
 

Agreed, but which sports get cut?
Women's rowing, men's baseball, men's and women's soccer?
I have no idea what programs are cut, but the revenue sports will get the money.
I think they've already telegraphed that baseball is toast. Not sure about the rest.
 



Coyle greasing the skids for the sports cuts that are coming. No way around it, a lot of fat will have to be trimmed to make sure his most important programs (FB, MBB, MHOC, VB, WBB, in that order) eat.
I wish women’s hockey was part of the mix too, but there aren’t many dollars left after football and MBB.
 

And Fleck gets a $1 million raise while the department runs a deficit. Seems like Fleck could get by on the millions they are currently paying him, in light of the financial challenges going forward. I guess I don’t understand the wealthy.
Football brings in the revenue and Fleck is a positive for all sports. Right now, the Gophers can’t risk losing him.
 

And Fleck gets a $1 million raise while the department runs a deficit. Seems like Fleck could get by on the millions they are currently paying him, in light of the financial challenges going forward. I guess I don’t understand the wealthy.

He’s earned his raise. Football generates like 80% or more of all sports revenue. Maybe instead of thinking he should give his money to support these failing sports you could spend some of your own time and money going to a wrestling match, or a swim meet, maybe a gymnastics competition, ect…
 







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